Gloucester, MA
previous whale sightings reports:
May 15, 2008 (photographs as promised...)
October 9, 2008
total sightings from today's whale watches:
12 HUMPBACK WHALES including 2 mother and calf pairs!
(all photos on this page were taken in October 2008 aboard the 7 Seas Whale Watch boat "Privateer IV")
Humpback whale calf ("Echo's calf) breaching
Even as our whale watch season reaches its end (we will be running trips for just a few more weeks) the number of whales on Stellwagen Bank has not diminished. Often times at this late point in the season we see a gradual dwindling of the number of whales as many whales begin their migration south towards their breeding grounds. This year, however, is different. For example today (October 9th) we saw at least 12 HUMPBACK WHALES just 13 miles outside Gloucester Harbor.
Feeding Humpback Whales like this one are still a common sight on Stellwagen Bank
Diving Humpback Whale
Some of the Humpback whales we have been seeing recently are the same whales that we have been observing all summer long such as “Echo” and calf, “Tectonic”, “Cajun” and calf, “Pinpoint”, and “Geometry” just to name a few. Other Humpbacks, however, have been new whales to the bank this year such as “Diablo” and calf, “Cat Eyes”, “Lutris”, “Jumanji”, and “Banyan”. It is not surprising to see these new whales moving into the area. The Humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine may be beginning their migration south towards their breeding grounds in the Caribbean so while some of the whales that we had been seeing on Stellwagen bank during June, July, and August may have left the area other whales (whales that perhaps spent the summer feeding further north) are passing through the Stellwagen Bank area as they too make their way south.
Humpback Whales
Fall is a very nice time of the year to be on the water. In addition to the summer residents such as the Humpback whales, Fin whales, Minke whales, Greater and Cory’s shearwaters, and Wilson’s Petrels that are still lingering in the area, many of the fall migrants and winter residents have just begun to arrive. This past week we have had numerous sightings of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins, Harbor porpoises, Northern Gannets, a handful of Northern Fulmars, and even a Long-tailed Jaeger harassing a flock of migrating terns (and we were fortunate enough to have a few birders on board that to day to share in my excitement over seeing such a rare bird!). Another sure sign that winter is on its way has been the Harbor Seal that has been seen nearly everyday swimming around our dock in Gloucester Harbor. So there has been a lot of wildlife to see and I hope you can join us for a trip soon as the nice fall weather is bound to change soon. We will be running trips as far into October as we can!
MORE RECENT PHOTOS...
S. Jay Frontierro
7 Seas Whale Watch Naturalist
Some of the above photos were taken by our good friend Oktay Kaya. To see more of Oktay's beautiful whale photographs and other wildlife pictures he has taken please visit his site at http://www.whalesandwhales.com